Scorekeeper



Jams 19%) H. D. CLARKE 2,494,33

SCOREKEEPER Filed. Oct. 17, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan 11), 1950 H. D. CLARKE 2494,33

SCOREKEEPER Filed Oct. 1'7, 947 Y 2 Sheets-SheetZ I? 4g 60 l I? 2;

lllll HHIIH i atented Jan. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 19 Claims.

This invention relates to a score keeper for use in golf and the like games or activities where it is desired to record a plurality of individual scores.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device which is of durable construction having but few parts, which is reliable in operation and capable of withstanding severe usage, and which can be economically manufactured at a relatively low cost. Another object is to provide a construction which is of simple design and of attractive appearance, which can be carried or worn on the person and which can be conveniently used.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. l is a top plan View of a golf score keeper constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

3 is an. enlarged top plan view with parts broken away and shown in section to expose the setting mechanism and associated parts;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end elevation with parts broken away to expose the setting mechanism and associated parts;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section through the rotatable plate or squirrel cage;

Fig. 7 is a view, on a reduced scale, of the ring shaft carrying two number wheels or gears;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged isometric view of one of the number gears;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the spider spring;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the assembled squirrel cage, ring shaft, number gears and associated setting mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a detail showing a part of the setting mechanism which provides a releasable lock for the squirrel cage; and

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the dial disk carrying the movable hand.

In accordance with the present invention, I provide a score keeper comprising a casing which preferably has the same general construction and appearance as that of a wrist, lapel or pocket watch and within the casing there is mounted a rotatable plate or the like member for supporting a plurality of wheels or gears, each carrying a series of numbers or other characters, the faces of the gears or wheels being radially disposed in circumferentially spaced relation. To this end the gears may be rotatably mounted on a ring shaft carried by the rotatable plate and spacing elements are interposed between the gears or wheels to maintain them in fixed spaced relation. Setting means are provided for rotating the individual number carrying wheels or gears so as to record a plurality of individual scores, e. g., the total strokes for each hole played in a game of golf.

In addition to the foregoing elements, I preferably provide a. shield or bezel which is fixed to or otherwise rotatable with the plate, the bezel extending about the top of the casing and being formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings or windows corresponding to and positioned over the. number wheels or gears so as to expose to view the uppermost number or character. Releasable locking means may also be provided for holding the rotatable plate in a selected fixed position and also for holding the individual wheels or gears in set position.

Where, as here shown, the device is designed for use in playing golf, there is provided eighteen number wheels, one for each hole to be played, and to assist the player in keeping track of the holes already played and those to be played, the openings or windows in the bezel may be numbered to cooperate with a fixed index or hand and a movable index or hand carried by the bezel so that a mere glance at the hands indicates how far along the game has progressed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which show what is now considered a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I designates a casing which has the same general shape and construction as a conventional wrist Watch including the connecting lugs 2 and 3 for receiving the ends of a bracelet (not shown). The interior bottom wall 4 or the casing, as shown in Fig. 5, is formed with an upstanding central tubular post 5 and the side wall 6 is relieved at one end to provide a chamber 8 Which communicates with a stem opening H), as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Mounted within the casing so as to rotate about the post 5 is a squirrel cage [2 (Fig. 6) which comprises a generally circular plate I 5 formed with eighteen upstanding radially extending circumferentially spaced lugs l6 and a central opening I! through which the post 5 projects. Each of the lugs i6 is recessed adjacent to its outer end, as shown at l8 in Figs. 5 and 6, and the periphery of the plate between each of the lugs is formed with V-shaped notches 23, shown more clearly in Figs. 10 and 11.

A ring shaft 22 (Fig. 7) has a pressed fit within the recesses l8 of the squirrel cage, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10, and is thus supported for rotation about the post 5. The ring shaft carries eighteen freely rotatable small gears 25 (Fig. 8) which are held in circumferentially spaced relation to each other by the lugs l6. Each of the gears 25 has an enlarged hub 26 which carries numbers from zero to ten, as shown in Fig. 8.

The setting mechanism comprises a fiat plate 30 disposed within the chamber 8 and pivotally secured at 3| (Figs. 3 and 4) to the bottom wall 4 of the casing so as to swing toward and away from the periphery of the plate 15, as indicated by the full and broken lines of Fig. 11. The upper face of the plate carries a bearing or sleeve 32 (Figs. 5, 10 and 11) and its inner edge is formed with a rounded pawl-like projection'34'adapte'd to engage the notched portions .of the rotatable plate l5, as shown in Fig. 11, thereby to provide a releasable lock for holding the plate [5 against rotation. Asetting stem 35 projects through the opening ll) and :sleeve .32 :and its inner end carries a setting gear 36 engageable with and disengageable from each of the gears when the plate is swung towardand away from the notch plate l5.

:The construction arrangement of parts are such that when the gear is in operative engagement with one of the gears 25, as shown in Figs. 5 and 10,-the locking plate'32 engagesone of the notched portions 20 to hold the squirrel cage in fixed position, and when the squirrel cage is rotated in one direction or the other, the'camming action of the notch '20 on the projection 34 swings the plate 30 outwardly,

thereby disengaging the setting :gear 36 from the gear/25. 1Thus,the operative engagement of the setting gear :36 with one of thenumbered gears 25 can only" take placewhen'the plate 30 looks the squirrel cage in fixedposition.

The intermediate portion of the stem'35-has .a loose fit within the opening IE! to permit swinging movement of the plate-39 andthe outer end of the stern projects outwardly: beyond the casing 'l and carries a small finger wheel 38 by means of which the stem may be rotated. A small compression spring 40 in interposed between the sleeve 32'and adjacent-wall .15 so as normally to hold the plate and associatedparts in looking position, theends of the springz lflextending into small openings of the walland sleeve, as shown ,more clearly in Fig. 3, so as tov hold the spring against displacement.

5A: spider spring 4! (Fig.- 9)"havingan annular body portion 42 and eighteen radiallyextending upwardly inclined spring fingersi44, is mounted on the top of the plate I5 sothat the hooked peripheral margin of the bezel is shaped so as snugly to fit the upper edge of the casing, as

shown inFig. 5, and spaced inwardly from its periphery the bezel is provided with eighteen circumferentially spaced windows .or openings 48 arranged above the hubs 26 onthe gears 25 so as to expose to view the uppermost numbers on the hubs, as illustrated in Figs; 1 and 13. Each of the openings 48 are numberedlfrom 1 to 18, as shown in Fig. 3. 'The-bezelis held in position by a screw 50 whichhasa. threaded engage- 4 ment with the post 5, the screw 50 having an enlarged head 5! which overlies the inwardly flanged lower part of the hub 46, as shown in Fig. 5.

The upper peripheral margin of the bezel extends above or overhangs the upper part of the casing, as shown in Figs. 2, e and 5, so that the bezel may be conveniently rotated by the thumb and forefinger, and three small screws 54 (Fig. 5) extend through spaced openings in the hub 46 and spider 42 into the squirrel cage or plate l5 to hold these parts together so that they may 'be rotated as a unit. The upper face of the bezel may be formed with a shallow central recess which receives a dial disk 56 (Fig. 12) having embossed thereon or otherwise provided with an index finger orhand 58. Another index finger or hand 65 is carried by a small arbor 6| (Fig. 5) the lower end of which is threaded into the head 5! of the screw 5%, the hand 55 thus being fixed so as to'point at all times to the number gear in operative relation with the settingmechathe next hole to be played is the tenth hole.

A crystal 55 extends over the upper face of the bezel with its edge retained in a circumferential recess spaced inwardly from the periphery of the bezel, as in conventional watch constructions. Thus, the crystal bezel and associated parts are rotatable as a unit.

In assembling the device the setting mechanism (parts 35-45) is first put in'place within the casing, after which a sub-assembly of the squirrel cage 12, spider spring 4!, ring shaft 22 and number gears 25, is inserted in the casing about the-post 5. The bezel'is then-positioned with its hub 45 about the post 5 andafter lining up the holes for the three screws 54, the screws'50 and 5 3 are applied. The dial disk 56 is next applied, after which the index hand 60 and arbor 6| are applied. Finally the crystal 65 is applied in conventional manner, thus completing the as sembly.

The normal use of the device in playing golf is as follows: Assuming that all numbered gears are set so that the zero number is exposed to view and the bezel 45 is positioned so that the movable hand 58 underlies the fixed hand 58, in which position both hands point to the number 1 Window and the setting gear 35 is in operative engagement with the number gear corresponding to the number l windowafter having played the first hole, the score is recorded by rotating the finger-wheel 33-so as to bring the proper number on the hub of the gear 25 uppermost, after which the bezel is rotated clockwise so that the fixed hand points to the number 2 window. Clockwise movement of the bezel from the first position automatically disengages the locking pawl 34 and the setting gear as above explained, and, asthe second position is approached, these parts are moved into operative engagement by the action of the spring 45, it being noted that the pawl 34 is operative to hold the bezel and associated parts against free movement and that the spider spring 42 is likewise operative to hold the number gears in set position. The same procedure is repeated after each play so that at the end of the game the individual scores for all'holes played are indicated.

1 It will be noted from the foregoing that the device is of relatively rugged construction and is reliable in operation, there being no delicate parts which cannot withstand the jolts usually encountered in playing golf. Moreover, the device may be provided with the usual embellishments applied to wrist watches so as to enhance its ornamental appearance, and the device may be conveniently worn as a wrist watch without interfering with or impeding the normal play. Another advantageous feature is that the design of the parts is such as to permit economical manufacture on a mass production basis, it being noted that the assembly does not require the services of skilled workmen.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, and setting means carried by said casing and selectively engageable with said numbered wheels for rotating them individually on said ring shaft.

2. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered Wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, setting means engageable with said numbered wheels for rotating them individually on said ring shaft, and a bezel carried by said rotatable member, said bezel extending about the top of said casing and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings corresponding to and positioned over said numbered wheels so as to expose to view the uppermost numbers on said wheels.

, 3. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, and setting means carried by said casing, said setting means being movable toward and away from said ring shaft so as to be successively engageable with and disengageable from the numbered wheels when said rotatable member is rotated, whereby the nhmbered wheels may be individually set so as to indicate a plurality of given scores.

4. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered Wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, setting means engageable with said numbered wheels for rotating them individually on said ring shaft, and locking means for holding the individual numbered wheels in set position. 5. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, setting means for rotating said numbered wheels individually on said ring shaft, and looking means engageable with said rotatable member for releasably holding it in fixed position.

...6. A scorekeeper. comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, a bezel carried by said rotatable member, said bezel extending about the top of said casing and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings corresponding to and positioned over said numbered wheels so as to expose to view the uppermost numbers on said wheels, and setting means carried by said casing, said setting means being movable toward and away from said ring shaft so as to be successively engageable with and disengageable from the numbered wheels carried thereby when said rotatable member is rotated, whereby the numbered wheels may be individually set to indicate a plurality of given scores.

'7. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, setting means for rotating said numbered wheels individually on said ring shaft, a bezel carried by said rotatable means, said bezel extending about the top of said casing and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings corresponding to and positioned over said numbered wheels so as to expose to View the uppermost numbers on said wheels, and locking means for holding the individual numbered wheels in set position.

8. A score keeper comprising a casing, a ring shaft, a rotatable member within said casing for supporting said ring shaft, a plurality of numbered wheels rotatably mounted on said ring shaft in circum'ferentially spaced relation to each other, setting means carried by said casing, said setting means being movable toward and away from said ring shaft so as to be successively engageable with and disengageable from the numbered wheels carried by said ring shaft when said rotatable means is rotated, whereby the numbered wheels may be individually set so as to indicate a plurality of given scores, and locking means associated with said setting means and engageable with said rotatable member for releasably holding said rotatable means in fixed position.

9. A score keeper comprising a casing, a generally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a ring shaft supported by said lugs, a plurality of gears, each carrying a series of numbers, rotatably supported on said ring shaft between said lugs, and setting means selectively engageable with said gears for rotating them individually on said ring shaft. v

10. A score keeper comprising a casing, a generally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a ring shaft supported by'said lugs, a plurality of gears, each carrying a series of numbers, rotatably supported on said ring shaft between said lugs, a bezel carried by said plate and extending above the top of said casing, said bezel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings corresponding to and positioned above said gears so as to expose to view the uppermost numbers carried thereby, the peripheral portion of said bezel extending beyond a part'of said casing to provide means by which the bezel, plate and associated parts may be rotated, and setting means for rotating said gears individually on said ring shaft.

11'. A score keeper comprising a:casing,a--gen-" erally circular plate pivotally mounted within saidica'sin'g, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a ring shaft supported by said lugs, a plurality. of gears, each carrying a series of numbers, rotatably sup-- ported'on said ring shalt between said lugs, and setting stem projecting into the interior of said casing in approximately tangential relation .to said-plate, the end of said stem carrying gear teeth selectively engageable with said gears to rotate them individually and the outerend of said stem projecting beyond'the exterior of said casing-to provide means by which said stem may be rotated.

12. A score keeper comprising a casing, a-gen erally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having a plurality of circum'ferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a ring shaft supported by said lugs, a plurality of gears, each carrying a series of numbers, rotatably supported-on said ring shaft bet'weensaid lugs, spring fingerscarried by said-plate and engageable with said gears for yieldingly restraining rotation thereof, and setting means selectively engageable with said gears for rotating them individually on said ring shaft. 1

13. A score keeper comprising a casing, a generally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casingsaid plate having a plurality of circumierentially spaced upstanding lugs, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted between said lugs, each gear carrying a series of numbers, and setting means movable toward and away from said plate andbeing selectively'engageable with said gears for rotating them individually, thereby to indicate a plurality of given scores.

14. A score keeper comprisinga casing, a generally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having a plurality of circum'ferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a ring shaft supported by said lugs, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted on said ring shaft between said lugs, each gear carrying a series of numbers, a bezel carried by said plate and extending above the'top of said casing, said bezel having a plurality of'eircumferentially spaced openingscorrespending to and positioned above said gears-so as to expose to view the uppermost-numbers carried thereby, the peripheral portion of said bezel extending beyond a part of said casing to provide means by which the bezel, plate and associated parts may be rotated, and setting means for rotating said gears individually on said ring shaft.

15. A se-ore keeper comprising a casing, a generall circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted between said lugs, each gear carrying a series of numbers, a sleeve mounted within said casing so as to move toward and away from said plate, a setting ste'm' pr'ojecting into said casing with its inner end rotatably supported by said sleeve, said inner end carrying gear teeth selectively engageable with said gears to rotate them individually so as to indicate a given score, and the outer end of said stem projecting outwardly beyond said casing'to provide means by which said stem may be rotated.

16. A-sc-ore keeper comprising a casing, a generally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having a plurality of circumferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a ring shaftsupported by said lugs, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted on said ring shaft between said lugs,.ea'ch gear carrying alser ies. of numbers; a spring member carried-by; said plate-and having. a plurality of radially extending spring fingers engageable with said gears for yieldingly re-- straining rotation thereof, and settingmeans for rotating. said gears individually on said. rin shalt toindicateagiven score.

.17; A score keeper comprising: a casing, a gen erally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, saidplate having a plurality/ofcircumierentially. spaced upstanding lugs, a. plurality of: gears: rotatably mounted betweensaid lugs, e'achi'gear carryinga series'of' numbers, a bezel carried by: said plate and extending-I above the top of said casing, said bezelhaving a plurality of circurnierentia'lly:spaced openings correspondingto and positioned above said gears soas to expose to'view the uppermost numbers carried thereby, the peripheral 1 portion of said bezel: extending beyond apartof said casing? to provide means by which the bezel, plate and associated parts may berota t'ed, and setting meansincludin a stem projecting-into the' interiorof said cas ing in approximately tangential relation tosaid plate, the inner end of-said stem carryin z'gearteeth selectively engageable' with said gears to rotate-them individual-1y so'asto-indicate a given score and the outerend or said ste'm extending outwardly beyond the exterior of said casing' to provide means by which said stem may be'rotated.

l8; A'score keeper comprising a casing, agenerallycircular plate pivotallymounted within said casing, saidplate having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced upstanding lugs, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted between said lugs, each gear carrying aseries of:- numbers, a bezel carriedby said'plate and extendin -above the top of said casing, said bezel having a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced openings corresponding to anclpos'itionedabove said gears so asto expose to view the' uppermost numbers carriedther'eby, the peripheral portion oi said bezel extending 'beyond par't ofsaid casing to provide means by which the bezel; plate and 'associated partsmaybe rotated, spring fingerscarried by said plate and engageable with said' gears for yieldinglyrestraining rotation the'reof; andsett'ing means including a stem-projectingintothe interior of said casing, saidstem being movable toward'and away from s'aid plate, the inner end of-saidstem'carry ing gear teeth selectively engageab'le-with said gears "to rotate them individuallyso as to indicate a score and the outer end of said stem projecting beyond the exterior of saidcasing to provide means by which said stem may be rotated;

1 19. A-score keeper comprising a casing, agenerally circular plate pivotally mounted within said casing, said plate having'a plurality'o'f circum'ferentially spaced upstanding lugs, a plurality of gears rotatably mounted between said lugs; each gear carrying a series of numbers, a bezel carried by said plate and extending above the top-of said casing, said bezel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings corresponding to and positioned above said gears so as to expose to view the uppermost numbers carried thereby, the-peripheral portion of said bezel extending beyond a part of said casing to provide means by which the bezel, plate and associated parts may be rotated, and setting means including astem'projectin into the interior of said casing inapproximately tangential relation to said plate, the inner end of said stem carrying gear teeth selectively engageable with said gears to rotate themindividually so as-to indicate a'given score,

and the outer end of said stem extending out- REFERENCES CITED wardly beyond the exterior of said casing to provide means by which said stem may be rotated, and releasable locking means for holding said The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

plate in position, and means for yieldingly re- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS straining rotation of said gears. Number Name Date 1,110,942 Kempner Sept. 15, 1914 HARRY CLARKE 1,501,398 Eacrett July 15, 1924 1,548,941 Giset Aug. 11, 1925 

